Norway is set to come under France’s nuclear umbrella, marking a significant shift in European security arrangements as concerns grow over the United States’ long-term commitment to the region.
The move was confirmed by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who travelled to Paris to meet President Emmanuel Macron and formalise a new defence agreement. The deal will see Norway join a French-led nuclear deterrence initiative, extending Paris’s protection to the Nordic country.
“Our decision reflects the current security situation in Europe, including Russia’s large-scale rearmament, also in the nuclear domain, and its ongoing war against another European country,” Støre said.
The development represents a notable change in Norway’s traditional security stance. Long regarded as a strongly Atlanticist nation, Oslo has historically relied on close ties with Washington through NATO as the cornerstone of its defence policy.
Under the new arrangement, France’s nuclear deterrent would effectively cover Norway, meaning that any attack on the country could trigger a French response. However, Støre emphasised that no nuclear weapons would be stationed on Norwegian soil during peacetime.
Norway, which has a population of around 5.6 million, is a NATO member but not part of the European Union. It shares a border with Russia in the Arctic, a factor that has become increasingly important as tensions with Moscow continue to rise.
France first signalled its willingness to extend its nuclear protection to European partners in March, as part of a broader effort to strengthen the continent’s strategic autonomy. Norway now joins Poland and Lithuania, both of which also border Russia, in seeking closer alignment with Paris on nuclear deterrence.
President Macron confirmed that Norway would join the initiative, describing the move as part of a wider European effort to bolster collective security in an uncertain geopolitical environment.
The shift comes as Europe reassesses its defence posture amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and concerns over the reliability of U.S. security guarantees. While NATO remains central to European defence, some countries are increasingly looking to diversify their security arrangements and strengthen intra-European cooperation.
Globally, nuclear capabilities remain heavily concentrated among a few powers. Russia and the United States each possess more than 5,000 nuclear warheads, while China is estimated to have around 500, France about 290 and the United Kingdom roughly 225, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
Against this backdrop, France’s move to extend its nuclear umbrella reflects a growing push within Europe to enhance deterrence and reduce dependence on external allies, as the continent navigates a rapidly evolving security landscape.
Pakistan on Sunday expressed "deep concern" over the latest escalation in the Middle East following renewed military exchanges between the U.S. and Ir...
The United States and Iran have significantly escalated their conflict, exchanging heavy missile and drone strikes across the Gulf region. Iran claim...
The UK has announced a fresh round of sanctions against individuals and organisations it says are responsible for cyber attacks and hybrid operations ...
Pakistan on Sunday expressed "deep concern" over the latest escalation in the Middle East following renewed military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran. It urged all sides to exercise restraint and honour commitments made under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The United States and Iran have significantly escalated their conflict, exchanging heavy missile and drone strikes across the Gulf region. Iran claims it has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route.
The UK has announced a fresh round of sanctions against individuals and organisations it says are responsible for cyber attacks and hybrid operations linked to Russian intelligence, in a move aimed at countering efforts to destabilise Europe.
Tajikistan will reduce electricity exports and increase water reserves ahead of winter as the government seeks to improve domestic power supplies after last year’s seasonal shortages.
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
The U.S. has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran targeted a container ship and said it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also claimed to have expanded attacks on U.S. military facilities across the Gulf.
Typhoon Bavi, the strongest storm to hit the eastern coast of mainland China this year, brought heavy rain, strong winds, flooding and landslides after making landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday. More than 2.8 million people were evacuated to safety ahead of the storm.
President Ilham Aliyev is holding his annual question-and-answer session with international journalists at the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum in Azerbaijan.
Qatar is mourning the death of its former ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who has passed away at the age of 74.
The UK has announced a fresh round of sanctions against individuals and organisations it says are responsible for cyber attacks and hybrid operations linked to Russian intelligence, in a move aimed at countering efforts to destabilise Europe.
A 93-year-old British woman has died after being injured in wildfires that swept through southeastern Spain's Almeria province, regional authorities said, bringing the confirmed death toll to 13 people.
More than 10,000 excess deaths were recorded across 27 European countries during a record-breaking heatwave in late June, with older people accounting for the vast majority of the toll, according to official mortality data.
An overnight fire at a popular bar in Bangkok has killed at least 27 people and injured 63 others, making it one of the deadliest pub disasters in the Thai capital in recent years. Authorities say the venue quickly filled with thick smoke, trapping patrons inside.
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